Permutation-padlock.



(No Model.)

Patented Feb. I3, |900.

A. AMESS.

PERMUTATION PADLOCK.

(Application Bled July 11, 1699.)

2 Sheets-Sheet l.

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Patentd Feb. I3, |900. A. AMESS. l PEBMUTATIDN PADLOCK.

(Application led July 11, 1899.)

2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

'(No Model.)

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y PATENT EEroEi.

AeNEs's AMEss, or FEAZEE, MINNESOTA.

PERMuTA-rloN-PADLOCK- SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N o. 643,448, dated February 13, 1900.

Application filed July 11, 1899.

this character that will be extremely simple,

strong, durable, and comparatively inexpensive to manufacture.

A further object of the invention is to construct a lock of this characterwith a frictional washer interposed between the tumblers to prevent the frictional contact of the tumblers With each other while being operated.

The invention further contemplates constructing a spring-acting lock and to provide means which will permit turning` of the tumblers to destroy the combination after the lock has been opened, and thus .prevent the reading of the combination, and also which will not require the resetting of the tu mblers upon the .combination employed for opening the lock in order to relock the same.

A further object of the invention is to construct a lock with the tumblers so arranged f as `to shed water on their exterior, and thus prevent dampuess from reaching the interior of the lock to rust or otherwise damage the working parts thereof.

Brieiiy described, the invention consists of two curved locking-bars or hasps, each terminating in a head and the one carrying a hollow shaft or spindle, with the other having a longitudinally-grooved spline adapted to enter said hollow shaft or spindle and having arranged therein a spring-actuated toothed locking-bar. The hollow shaft or spindle is circumferentially grooved and has the tumblers mounted thereon, which tumblers in crosssection are substantially angular in form. Sectional Washers are mounted in the circumferential grooves of the hollow shaft or spindle and are adj ustably connected to the tumble1's,Whi1e a frictional washer of also substantially angular form in cross-section is serial No. 723,431. (No man.)

.mounted on the hollow shaft or spindle be-Q tween the tumblers and incloses the sectional Washers,V while preventing frictional Contact of the tumblers with each other during their operation to open the lock.

My improved lock may be employed in any connection where it is preferable to use a lock that is operative without the aid of the ordinary key; and the invention further consists in the novel construction, combination, and arrangement of parts, as will be hereinafter more particularly described, and then spe-- cifieally pointed out in the claims.

In describing the invention in detail refer= ence is had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part ofthisspecilication, and where= in like numerals of reference will indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views of thepdrawings, in which-- Figure 1 is a perspective view of my im* proved permutation-padlock when opened. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view when closed, with the hasps or curved locking-'bars partly broken away. Fig. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view of the lock when closed, with the majority of the tu mblers and the sectional and frictional washers removed, one of the hasps being partly broken away. Fig. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the lock, taken on the line x c of Fig. 2. Fig. 5 is a like View taken on the line Y Y of Fig. 2. Fig. 6 is a longitudinal sectional view of the grooved spline. Fig. 7 is a detail plan View of one of the tumblers. Fig. 8 is a detail perspective view of the' spring-actuated locking-bar. Fig. 9 is a detail plan view of the washer employed for l lookin g the last tumbler of the series in position. Fig. 10 is a detail plan view of one of the sectional Washers. Fig. 11 is a detail plan view of the nut which engages the hollow shaft or spindle to look the series of tumblers and washers in position upon the hollow shaft or spindle. Fig. 12 is a detail plan view of one of the stationary frictional washers. Fig. 13 is a longitudinal sectional view of a modified form of lock when closed, with the hasps or curved locking-bars partly broken away. Fig. 14 is a longitudinal sectional View of this form o f 'lock when closed, with the majority of the tumblers Yand the sectional and frictional washers removed= the hasps being partly broken away. Fig. 15 is a detail perspective IOO view of the spring-actuated locking-bar employed in this form of construction. Fig. 16 is a longitudinal sectional view of the grooved spline employed in this form of construction. Fig. 17 is a detail plan view of the form of frictional washer employed in this form of construction.

Referring now to the drawings by referencenumerals, I will first describe the construction shown in Figs. 1 to 12, inclusive,in which 1indicates the male and 2 the female portions of the curved locking-bars o1' hasps, terminating in the respective heads 3 and 4, the former having the graduations 5 on its periphery and the latter having the circumferential flange 6, which is adapted to receive and conceal the securing-nut and washer, which holds the series of tumblers and washers in position. The graduations 5 act as the guide for the operator and form the rst letter of the word employed as the combination for opening the lock. The male portion 1 of the hasp is preferably provided with a reduced free end 7, which is adapted to enter a socket provided therefor in the enlarged end 8 of the female portion, said enlarged end 8 abutting against the bushing or collar 9, formed integral with the male portion 1 and which acts as a stop to limit the movement of said member. The head 4 of the bar 1 in this construction has formed integral therewith a spline 10, provided throughout its length with a longitudinal groove 11, extending entirely through the spline for a short distance at its free end. Arranged within this groove 11 is a lockingbar 12, which is cut away on its underneath side, as at 14, to receive and hold in position a spring l5, bowed or bent to have its center rest on the spline at the bottom of the groove 11, and has its ends abutting against the shoulders 16, formed by the cut-away portion 14. This spring-actuated lockingbar is provided on its upper face with a series of teeth 17, one face of which is rounded or inclined and the other face of which is vertical. As many of these teeth are provided as there are tumblers employed in the lock. The locking-bar 12 is further provided near its inner end with an aperture 18, which is adapted to receive apin 19, secured in the spline for holding the bar in position. This locking-bar in this construction is provided near its other end, on the upper face and in alinement with the teeth 17, with a lug 20, adapted to enter a groove or notch provided therefor in the securing-nut and prevent the turning of the latter after having been adjusted to position. The head 3 has formed integral therewith a hollow shaft or spindle 21, provided th roughout its length with a longitudinal groove 22. This shaft or spindle 2l is adapted to receive the spline 10, while the groove 22 receives the teeth 17 ofthe bar 12 and permits ofthe spline to enterinto and be withdrawn from the shaft or spindle. This shaft or spindle 21 is provided with a series of circumferential grooves 23, adapted to receive washers consisting of two sections 23 and 24, the former having a notch 25 registering with the groove 22 when the tu mblers are set and the latter having a lug 26, which may be conveniently formed by pressing the metal part way through the washer. This lug 26 is adapted to engage in one of the series of circuinferentially-arranged openings 27, that are provided in the one side of the tumblers 28. These tumblers 28 are graduated on their periphery, and the combination is altered by changing the position of the sectional washer, so as to have its lug 2G in engagement with the opening 27 of the tumbler that is opposite the respective letter or character forming a part of the combination it is desired to use. The tumblers are preferably made substantially angular in cross-section, and they therefore present only a very small width for frictional engagement with the hollow shaft or spindle and are consequently easy of manipulation. Interposed between the tumblers 2S is a frictional washer 29, having a lug or toot-h 30, adapted to engage in a longitudinal groove 30, provided therefor in the hollow shaft or spindle 21, the said lug or tooth serving to hold the said frictional washer stationary when the tumblers are being rotated. These frictional washers are also substantially angular in cross-section, and consequently present but a small surface to the side of the tumbler and have the counter sunk face 29, which receives t-he sectional washers and entirely incloses the same. The free end of the hollow shaft or spindle 21 is reduced in size and screw-threaded and has mounted thereon against the shoulder formed by reducing said end a washer 3l, provided with a lug 31, formed in the same manuel' and serving the same purpose in connection with the last tumbler of the series as the lugs 2G on the sectional washers. Directly opposite this lug 3l' the washer is provided with a notch 32, which registers with the groove 22 of the spline when the combination is set and the lock in position to be opened. The series of tumblers and washers are locked in position upon the hollow shaft or spindle 2l by means of a nut 33, which engages the reduced screw-threaded end of said shaft or spindle 21, and is prevented from turning after the same has been adjusted to position by providing the said nut with a notch 34, which receives the lug 2O on the locking-bar 12. In this construction for the purpose of preventing the locking-bar 12 from being forced upwardly at its outer end and out of position when the lock is opened, as would be caused by the action of the spring 15, I arrange within the ange 6, adjacent the inner face of the head 4, a washer 35, which, as shown in Figs. 2 and 3, engages said bar 12 beyond the lug 20 and holds the same in its proper position. To prevent the two members being entirely disconnected when the combination is set and the spline 10 withdrawn froln the hollow shaft or spindle 21, I provide the spline 10 with a longitudinal IIO groove 36, into which engages' a screw or pin 37, inserted through the shaft or spindle 21 near its end, with the head thereof countersunk, so as not to interfere with the placing of the washer 31 and nut 33 in position on the reduced end. When the lock is closed, the washer 3l and nut 33 lie entirely within and areinclosed by the circumferential {iange 6 of the hasp.

In Figs. 13 to 17, inclusive, I have shown a slightly-modified form of construction which in manufacture is my preferred form. In this construction the two members of the hasps or curved locking-bars 1 and 2,the heads 3 and 4, graduations 5, the circumferentiall iiange G, and the construction of the hollow shaft or spline 21 are similar and the same reference-numerals are employed. In this preferred form of construction, however, the spline 10' is provided throughout its length with the longitudinal groove 11', extending entirely through the spline near its free end, and also at a point near the intersection of the spline with the head 4, thus forming the two openings 10l and 10b. The locking-bar l2' used in this construction is arranged within the groove 11 and is cut away on its underneath side, as at 14', in the same manner as, the locking-bar 12 and is adapted to receive the spring 15 in the same manner, the same form vof spring being employed, with its bow resting upon the spline at the bottom ofthe groove 1l between the two openings and its ends abutting against the shoulders 16', formed by the cutaway portion 14. This form of spring-actuated locking-bar is also provided on its upper face with a series of teeth 17', which are of the same formation as the teeth 17 shown on bar 12. In this construction, however, I dispense with the lug 20 for holding the nut 33 and employ in lieu thereof a pin 20', which enters through a groove or notch provided therefor in the said nut and engages in a recess on the inner face of the head 4. In this preferred form of construction I also dispense with the retaining-washer 35 and employ in lieu thereof a pin 19', which engages in the opening 1S provided therefor in this locking-bar 12', the other end of said bar being held by the pin 19 engaging in the aperture or opening 18 in the same manner as described for the construction shown in Figs. 1 to 12, inclusive. The sectional washers employed in this preferred form of construction are identical with those of the other form shown, while the tumblers'28' are likewise provided with the circumferentially-arranged openings 27' to receive the lugs 26 of the sectional washers, the latter being mounted in the circumferential'grooves 23 of the hollow shaft or spindle. These tumblers 28, while being substantially angular in cross-section, as are the tumblers 2S, are provided with an annular groove 28 of the same depth as the engaging face of the adjacent frictional washer 29 which it receives. These frictional washers 29 are provided with a lug 29,

which engages in the groove 30 of the hollow shaft or spindle 21 to hold the said washer in position in the same `manner as in the form heretofore described. The frictional washers 29' are likewise provided with an annular groove 29b of the same form as the groove on the tumblers and which receives the engaging face of the next adjacent tumbler. By this construction of the tu mblers 28 and friotional washers 29 I am enabled to close the joints between the tumblers and washers, so that water will be excluded and shed from the eX- terior of the lock and prevented from passing to the interior to rust or otherwise damage the parts, which would serve to hinder the easy manipulation and free working thereof. Any desired number of tumbles maybe provided in either construction, and these tumblers are graduated on their periphery either by letters, numbers, orby characters or the like and are provided with as many openings in the side as there are numbers, letters, or other characters on the periphery of the tumblers.

The operation of my improved permutationpadlock may be brieiiy described as follows: Assuming all parts to be in their respective positions, the lock closed, and the combination employed for opening the same to be the word White, the first letter W of this combination will be found on the graduations 5 of. the head 3 and is the guide for the operator during the operation. The adjacent tumbler lwill be turned so as to bring the letter H into alinement with the letter W,? at which time the notch 25 of the sectional washer will have been brought into registration with the longitudinal groove 22 of the hollow shaft or spindle 2l. This operation is repeated until each of the tumblers has been so turned as to bring the let- 5 77 H77 ((177 CCT (E? with each other and the sectional washers having been simultaneously moved so as to bring the notches 25 all into alinement with the groove 22, at which time the spline may be readily withdrawn and the two members of the hasp disengaged and the lock removed from the 'staple or other fastening device to which it has been secured. When the lock has been opened, the combination may be destroyed by turning the tumblers, and any one thereby prevented from discovering the combination, the lock being readily reclosed without resetting the tumblers to the combination, as the inclined or rounded faces of the teeth 17 or 17' (according to the form of locking-bar employed) coming into engagement with the sectional washers cause the spring' actuated bar 12 or 12 to be depressed' into the slot 11 or 11, and as these teeth pass from engagement with the said washers the spring l5 forces the bar 12 or 12' upwardly,

with the vertical faces of the teeth engagingk the sectional washers and preventing the withdrawal of the spline or opening of the lock by others than those familiar with the IOO IIO

combination. The operation of the tumblers and the adjustment of the sectional washers to alter the combination are identical in each form of construction, though I prefer the construction illustrated in Figs. 13 to 17, inclusive, on account of eheapness in man ufacture and the exclusion of dampuess from the interior of the lock.

The two members of the lock are prevented from being entirely disconnected when the lock is opened in the same manner as described in the former construction.

Having fully described my invention,- what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In a permutation-padlock, the combination of the two locking-bars engaging each other, each of said bars 'terminating in a head, a hollow shaft or spindle secured to one of said heads and provided throughout its length with a longitudinal slot and around its periphery with circumferential grooves, a spline secured to the other of said heads and provided with a longitudinal groove or slot, a locking-bar arranged within said groove or slot, a series of tumblers revolubly mounted on said hollow shaft or spindle, said tumblers being provided in their sides with a series of openings, a frictional washer mounted on said hollow shaft or spindle between each of said tumblers, a sectional washer mounted within the circumferential grooves of the hollow shaft or spindle, the one section of said washers having a lug for engagement with the tumblers and the other section having a notch adapted to register with the longitudinal groove in the hollow shaft or spindle, and a separate washer and nut engaging the end of the hollow shaft or spindle for locking the washers and tumblers in position, substantially as described.

2. In a permutation-padlock, the combination of the two curved locking-bars each of which terminate at their one end in a head, a hollow shaft or spindle formed integral with one of said heads and provided with a longitudinal groove, a spline formed integral with the other of said heads and adapted to enter said hollow shaft or spindle, a spring-actuated locking-bar arranged within said spline, a series of tumblers revolubly mounted on said hollow shaft or spindle, sectional washers mounted upon the hollow shaft or spindle and engaging said tumblers, and a frictional washer mounted ou the hollow shaft or spindle between the tumblers and inclosing said sectional washers, substantially as described.

3. In a permutation-padlock, the combination of the two locking-bars engaging each other, each of said bars terminating in a head, a hollow shaft or spindle secured to one of said heads, said shaft or spindle being provided with circumferential grooves and a longitudinal groove, a series of tumblers revolubly mounted on said shaft or spindle, said tumblers beingsubstantially angular in crosssection and provided in the side with a series of openings, a' spline adapted to enter said hollow shaft or spindle, said spline being provided with a longitudinal groove or slot, a spring-actuated locking-bar arranged in said groove or slot, a sectional washer mounted within each of said circumferential grooves of the hollow shaft or spindle and carrying a lug to engage the openings in the tumblers, frictional washers mounted on the hollow shaft or spindle between the tumblers, and means secured to the end of the hollow shaft or spindle for locking the tumblers, the sec'- tional, and the frictional washers in position, substantially as described.

4. In a permutation-padlock, the combination of the two curved locking-bars forming the hasp, a hollow shaft or spindle formed iuintegral with one of said bars and a spline formed integral with the other bar, said holL low shaft or spindle having a series of circumferential grooves arranged equidistant and being further provided with a longitudinal slot and groove, said spline having a longitudinal slot, a spring-actuated locking-bar arranged within said slot, a series of gradu ated tumblers which are angular in cross-seetion mounted upon said hollow shaft or spindle, a sectional washer mounted within each of the circumferential grooves of the hollow shaft or spindle, means for securing said sectional washers to the tu mblers, frictional washers mounted on the hollow shaft or spin dle between the tumblers, means for holding said frictional washers stationary on the hollow shaft or spindle during the rotation of the tumblers and sectional washers, and means for securing the tumblers, the sectional washers, and the frictional washers in position upon the hollow shaft or spindle, substantially as described.

5. In a permutation-padlock, the eombination of the two locking-bars forming the hasp, a hollow shaft or spindle secured to one of said bars, a spline secured to the other bar, said spline being provided with a longitudinal slot, said hollow shaft or spindle being provided with a longitudinal slot and groove and with circumferentiallyarranged grooves, a spring-actuated locking-bar arranged within the slot of the spline, a series of tumblers revolubly mounted upon the hollow shaft or spindle, a sectional washer mounted within the circumferential grooves of the hollow shaft or spindle and secured to each of said tumblers, frictional washers interposed between the tumblers, and means for securing said tumblers, the sectional washers, and the frietional washers in position upon the hollow shaft or spindle, substantially as described.

6. In a permutation-padlock, the combination of the two locking-bars forming the hasp, a hollow shaft or spindle secured to one of said bars and a spline secured to the other bar, said shaft or spindle being provided with a longitudinal slot and with circumferentially-arranged grooves, a series of tumblers revolubly mounted on said shaft or spindle,

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a sectional washer mounted in each of the circumferential grooves and engaging said tumblers, frictional washers-A interposed between the tumblers and inclosin g said sectional washers, means for holding said frictional washers stationary during the rotation of the tumblers and sectional washers, means carried by the hollow shaft or spindle to engage the spline and prevent disconnection of the two members, and means engaging the end of the hollow shaft or spindle for locking the tumblers, the sectional washers, and the frictional washers in position, substantially as described.

7. In a permutation-padlock, the combination of the two locking-bars forming the hasp, a hollow shaft or spindle secured to one of said bars and a spline secured to the other bar, said shaft or spindle being provided with a longitudinal slot and with circumferential grooves arranged equidistant apart, a series of tumblers revolubly mounted on said hollow shaft or spindle,a sectional washer mounted in each of the circumferential grooves and engaging said tumblers, frictional washers interposed between the tumblers and inclosing said sectional washers, a spring-actuated locking-bar arranged within the spline,ineans engaging the spline and the locking-bar for holding the latter within the spline when the lock is opened, means carried by the hollow shaft or spindle and engaging the spline to prevent the disconnection of the two mennbers, and means for securing the tumblers, the sectional washers and the frictional washw ers in position upon the hollow shaft or spindle, substantially as described.

8. In a permutation-padlock, the combination of the two locking-bars forming the hasp, a hollow shaft or spindle secured to one of said bars and a spline secured to the other bar, said shaft or spindle being provided with a longitudinal slot and with circumferentially-arranged grooves, a series of tumblers revolubly mounted on said hollow shaft or spindle and provided on their one side with an annular groove anda series of circumferentially-arranged openings, a sectional washer mounted within each of the circumferential grooves of the hollow shaft or spindle and engaging said tumblers, a frictional washer mounted upon the hollow shaft or spindle between the tumblers and provided with an annular groove ou its one face, said frictional washers inclosing the sectional washers and having their one face engaging the annular groove of the tumbler with the engaging face of the adjacent tumbler engaging the annular groove of the frictional washer, means for holding said frictional washers stationary during the rotation of the tumblers and sectional washers, a spring-actuated locking-bar arranged within the spline, and means secured to the hollow shaft or spindle for locking the tumblers, the sectional washers, and the frictional washers in position, substantially as described.

9. In a permutation-padlock, the combination of the two locking-bars forming the hasp, of a hollow shaft or spindle secured to one of said bars and a spline secured to the other bar, said shaft or spindle being provided with a longitudinal slot and with circumferential grooves arranged equidistant apart, a series of tumblers revolubly mounted on said hollow shaft or spindle, said tumblers being substantially angular in cross-section and provided -on one side with a series of circumferentially-arranged openings and an annular groove, a sectional washer mounted within the circumferential grooves of the shaft or spindle and provided with a lug to lengage said openings in the tumbler and a notch adapted to register with the longitudinal slot, a sprin g-actuated locking-bar arranged within the spline, means for holding said bar in position, a frictional washer interposed between the tumblers with its one face engaging the adjacent tumbler and inclosin g said sectional washers, means for holding said frictional washers stationary during the rotation of the tumblers and sectional washers, and means for securing the tumblers, the sectional washers and the frictionalwashers in position upon the hollow shaft or spindle, substantially as described.

l0. In a permutation-padlock, the combination of the two locking-bars forming the hasp, of a hollow shaft or spindle secured to one of said bars and a spline secured to the other bar, said spline being provided with a longitudinal slot, a spring-actuated locking-bar arranged within said slot and provided on its upper face with a series of teeth having one of their faces rounded and the other vertical, a series of tumblers revolubly mounted on the hollow shaft or spindle, a sectional washer mounted upon the shaft or spindle between each pair of tumblers and adjustably connected thereto, frictional washers secured to the shaft or spindle between the tumblers and inclosing said sectional washers, means secured to the hollow shaft or spindle and engaging the spline to prevent the disconnection of the members when the lock is opened, and means for securing the tu mblers, the sectional washers and the frictional washers in position, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I aiix my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

. AGNESS All/IESS.

Witnesses:

ANNA F. DREW, M. AURLAND.

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